Lara had also shut her eyes, inhaling the scent.  She nodded her head with approval.

“Just the romantic that you turned me into, baby,” Tina murmured, kissing Bette, as she stood up and walked next to Lara, then stuck her hand underneath the curved faucet.  Water came gushing out, and Tina ran water briefly over the match.  Then she tapped her toe in a spot near the base of the island.  A trash can whooshed out. Tina dropped the watered- down match into it, then walked back to her stool as the trash can whooshed back in, disappearing into the island.

“Whoah!”  Lara exclaimed again.  “That is so cool.”

“I know, I know,” Bette laughed.  “Tina really should consider making kitchen designing a second profession right?”

“Totally!,” Lara agreed enthusiastically.

Tina shook her head, “Look who’s talking.  Lara, this whole house is Bette’s creation. There is no design detail to be found anywhere in here, nor outside the mansion’s exterior, no bolt or screw, chair, desk, light bulb or paint, that she did not carefully consider.  Her taste is the only reason why all the million details that went into the house have come together so well.”

She leaned her head on Bette’s shoulder.  “So lucky I have you,” she sighed.

Lara was shaking her head, as she observed Bette kiss Tina’s head fondly, in response, whispering “All for you, T.  You and Angelica.”  They’re both lucky.  And so in love!

“Well,” Lara bent to pick up her tool bag, to unfurl her prized collection of knives, “I promise to work my butt off to prepare a feast for you and your friends tomorrow that will meet your obviously high standards.  Between the house and the food, it will be everybody’s most memorable Valentine’s!”

Tina raised her head and looked at Bette.  They nodded, silently communicating.  They liked Lara’s confidence.  Just then, they heard a woman’s voice announce “There is someone at the door.”

“Woah!” Lara jumped in surprise.

Tina stood up and started walking towards one of the control panels on the side of the kitchen unit; she tapped an app, “Yes?”

Dana’s voice came through, “Hey Tina, it’s us!”

Tina responded, “Okay, walk straight down to the elevator.  You won’t need to key in a code or anything.  Press “D.”  Our front door will be right across the elevator, and it’ll be open by the time you get up.”